GINGER. 



481 



Ginger. — After pepper, ginger probably ranks next in importance 

 for the quantity produced and consumed, and the aggregate value of 

 that which we receive. The declared value of all the spices we 

 import averages about 1,200,000/., of which pepper stands for nearly 

 one half. Cinnamon is valued at about 125,000/., whilst ground 

 ginger has now reached beyond 169,000/., besides about 20,000/. more 

 for preserved ginger, and this is all consumed here. According to 

 Hanbury, ginger must have been tolerably well known in England 

 even prior to the Norman Conquest. The plant affording it was 

 known to Marco Polo, who speaks of observing it both in China and 

 India. 



The root-like stem of Zingiber officinale, Eosc, is cultivated in very 

 many of the warmer parts of the world for local use, but only in a few 

 localities on an extensive scale for shipment to supply European wants. 

 Of this well-known jflavouring condiment several varieties are known 

 in trade, distinguished by their quality, place of growth, &c. Gingers 

 are either "coated" with the shrivelled rind, or "scraped" by having 

 it run over. Ginger is sometimes bleached by chloride of lime, or 

 whitewashed with lime and water. This spice is but little used on the 

 Continent compared with England. 



The varieties of ginger which enter into commerce are Jamaica, 

 Cochin, Brazil and Africa. The first three are scraped gingers, the 

 last-named is coated ginger — that is to say, it still retains its epi- 

 dermis. Jamaica ginger is the sort most esteemed, and next to it 

 the Cochin. 



The following shows our sources of supply in 1875 : — 



From — 



Quantity. 



Value. 





cwts. 



£ 





9,900 



19,887 





10,459 



31,418 





11,553 



37,898 





8,295 



16,068 



British West India Isles . . 



15,215 



54,955 





1,481 



3,586 





56,903 



163,812 



Ginger is received chiefly from three quarters, the East and West 

 Indies (Cochin and Jamaica) and the Western Coast of Africa — Sierra 

 Leone. Our imports of ginger into the United Kingdom have been 

 as follows : — 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 



Year. 



Quantity. 



Value. 





cwts. 



£ 





cwis. 



£ 



1867 



42,834 



95,398 



1872 



32,174 



72,139 



1868 



52,194 



101,456 



1873 



36,363 



97,548 



1869 



34,535 



59,982 



1874 



38,750 



117,987 



1870 



33,854 



60,973 



1875 



56,880 



163,951 



1871 



32,723 



70,884 



1876 



62,164 



169,252 



2 I 



